Author: Markus Zusak
Published: March 2006
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
550 pages (paperback)
Every once in a while, you come across a book that moves you to a whole new emotional level. I’ve never burst into tears when reading a book (that’s just not really me), but I came pretty darn close with The Book Thief. Even though it’s categorized as a YA book, I think this is the kind of book anyone of any age can enjoy. In fact, if there’s any book that everyone should take the time read, it’s The Book Thief.
Anyway, I read this almost a week ago but just got around to sitting down and writing a review now (I’ve been extremely busy; still am, actually), so forgive me if I omit or forget some details.
This book takes place in Nazi Germany in the late 1930’s to early 1940’s. The story is narrated by Death, who has taken a special interest in the life of Liesel, a young ten (or 11? 12?) year old girl. Death first meets Liesel on a train, where she was traveling with her mother and brother to her foster family, as Liesel’s mother can no longer take care of her children. During the train ride, Liesel’s brother dies and is buried not too long after. It is at her brother’s burial that Liesel steals her first book from one of the grave diggers, and though she does not know how to read until her loving foster father teaches her, she develops an appetite for books then and there.
The story is actually rather simple. It is about Liesel’s life living with her foster parents on Himmel Street (Himmel means Heaven), and about her growing up. Life’s certainly monitored closely in Nazi Germany. To make matters more complicated, Liesel’s foster father takes in a Jewish man into their home to hide in their basement as a favor to the man who saved his life a long time ago in the first world war, putting their entire family in grave danger.
Oh yes, and Liesel is the book thief, in case it wasn’t clear. It’s funny how she loves books despite not being able to read, initially. I think it’s because, being relatively poor and living in a strictly monitored society, a book is hugely valuable and potentially dangerous — and Liesel is attracted to such rebelliousness. Reading is an escape, and as it turns out, it is an escape for not only Liesel, but many others around her as well. And you know, any book that talks about the power of reading immediately falls in my good books (pardon the pun)!
Even though the story is entirely narrated by Death, a figure that is usually imagined as cold, aloof, heartless, etc. and even though we never get into the thoughts of any of the characters, it’s so easy to attach yourself to everyone. There’s Liesel with her sad past and her seemingly happy present, having a loving new Mama and Papa and friends. There’s Hans, her foster father who gets bossed around by his wife Rosa a lot, but you know they both love Liesel so much and have it in their hearts to save innocent lives like the Jewish man they hide in their basement. The Jewish man is Max and it’s so easy to feel sorry for him; my heart broke at pretty much every point of his life that was described.
The heartstring tugging factor, for me, is that all the main characters are so innocent. Imperfect, but they don’t deserve the fate they got. And they all have dreams and hopes that you know are not going to come true because Death actually spoils the story himself as to who lives and dies. I think that actually makes the story sadder, because as you read, it’s already been revealed who is going to live at the end, and you feel helpless, knowing that there’s nothing the character can do to avoid their fate.
The ending is the most powerful scene, in my opinion. That was the part where I could barely hold back from letting tears roll down (which I didn’t want to happen because I was riding a public bus at the time!) I’m obviously not going to spoil it, but yeah … it was super sad. I don’t know how else to describe it. It was just sad. Powerfully sad. Leaves you kind of depressed. Potential spoilers, highlight to read: It’s a bit of a bittersweet ending, I think, because Liesel survives everything, but still, she’s lost everything. On the same topic though, Death says Liesel lives to an old age and marries and has children and grandchildren and everything … I’m kind of hoping she married Max. It would be pretty romantic. Yes, he’s 10 years older than her, but hey, when you grow older, the age gap doesn’t seem so big!
Final verdict on this book? Definitely a must-read, for many reasons. It takes place in an unforgettable point of history. It has very memorable characters who stay with you long after you close the book. It affects your perspective on books and reading. It affects your perspective on life and death. It affects you.
My Rating: 5/5
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